The Preferential Option for the Poor is a basic principle of Catholic social teaching. It essentially underscores that we are our brother’s keeper, especially where it concerns the most vulnerable among us including unborn children, persons with disabilities, the elderly and terminally ill, and victims of injustice and oppression. This responsibility is the focus of this past Sunday’s readings, especially Jesus’ message to the Pharisees (and us) in the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus.
Is material wealth a sin? In short, no. However, what we do with our prosperity matters greatly. The second reading about “pursuing righteousness” is taken from . . . → Read More: Our Brother’s Keeper
The parable of The Dishonest Steward is a difficult one. However, although it is omitted from the short version of this past Sunday’s gospel reading, it has much to teach us about relationships. Really?! Doesn’t the dishonest steward just cozy up to his master’s debtors with more dishonesty? Let’s take a look.
The Context. This parable has to be understood in the light of the Palestinian custom of stewards acting on behalf of their masters. It was common practice for such stewards to charge extra interest, which they would pocket themselves. When the steward in the parable had the debtors write new notes, these reflected only . . . → Read More: It’s a Relationship Business
The daily Mass readings this past week urged us to conduct our affairs in a manner pleasing to God. In 1 Corinthians, St. Paul urged us to purge immorality from our lives (Mon.), deal justly with one another (Tue.), refrain from idolatry (Thu.), exercise discipline (Fri.), and respect the Eucharist (Sat.). Given we often fall short at one time or another, how fitting it is to begin this week with an unmistakable reminder of God’s mercy!
The Lord relented in punishment (Exodus 32:14). While Moses was on Mount Sinai, conversing with God and retrieving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites ran amok under . . . → Read More: They Know Not What They Do
Who am I? Where am I? Where am I going? These three critical questions can be applied to the readings this past Sunday and can assist us as we apply the teachings in our daily lives throughout the week and beyond.
Who Am I? “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother…he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). What?! Okay, Jesus isn’t really encouraging us to hate our parents, but we do need to love them less (really a better translation than hate) than we love God. He is telling us that we need to . . . → Read More: Three Critical Questions
I am thirty-four years in age and until a year ago, other than the death of an extended elderly relative here and there, my life had been fairly free of traumatic events. The most traumatic, life-changing event in my life has been the sudden death of my father on September 30, 2009. While working in his yard on a beautiful day last fall, he was killed when part of a tree fell and landed on him. He died at the age of fifty-eight, and there hasn’t been a day since that I haven’t thought about him and longed to once again hear his fatherly voice and advice.
Pope John I inherited the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. Italy had been ruled for 30 years by an emperor who espoused the heresy, though he treated the empire’s Catholics with toleration. His policy changed at about the time the young John was elected pope. When the eastern ... […]
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